Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says Ander Herrera is a doubt for the Reds’ Premier League clash against Aston Villa tomorrow.
The Spaniard picked up a heavy knock in the closing stages of United’s win in their FA Cup quarter-final replay against West Ham on Wednesday, leading to Mark Noble carrying the midfielder off the pitch in an attempt to speed up play.
Van Gaal revealed the news in his weekly interview with MUTV, saying:
I don’t know yet for sure, he [Herrera] was injured, but the problem is that we have to recover again within two days. That is a continuing problem because we have to play so many matches when you are in so many competitions during this season, that is the only problem.
The United boss also said that he is keen to get captain Wayne Rooney back up to full match fitness, with the striker having made his first-team return by coming off the bench to replace Marcus Rashford on Wednesday.
Regarding Rooney, Van Gaal said:
He [Rooney] always wants to play. Yes, I think he shall receive more minutes but it’s always dependable on the game. You cannot say in advance that I give you 20 minutes or something like that; when it’s possible, I shall do that because we need Wayne in the team.
Finally, Van Gaal said that Bastian Schweinsteiger is unlikely to play for United again this season after picking up a knee injury during the last international break towards the end of March while Luke Shaw is now training with a physio on the pitch:
I don’t think Schweinsteiger shall play this season – I think, next season, he is prepared. Maybe he is prepared for the European Championship, I cannot predict. It is possible, but then that is also in our favour because then he is fit for the new competition. Shaw is now training on the pitch with the physiotherapist, it’s not with a trainer-coach, so that’s the difference. But he’s going great, it’s unbelievable.
Fifth-placed United have to win tomorrow to keep up the fight for a top-four place, while bottom of the table Villa could have relegation confirmed before the game kicks off at Old Trafford, depending on the result of the early kick-off between Sunderland and Norwich.
